Carlo Ancelotti faces prison sentence for tax fraud in Spain

Thursday 03 April 2025 - 16:00

By: Zahouani Ilham

Carlo Ancelotti faces prison sentence for tax fraud in Spain

The prosecution has requested a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, accusing him of tax fraud for concealing a portion of his income from image rights. The charges date back to his first stint at the club between 2013 and 2015.

The public prosecutor’s office, which announces its requisitions in Spain before a trial and either confirms or modifies them during hearings, claims Ancelotti defrauded more than one million euros from the Spanish tax authorities. The prosecutor argued that fraud, concealment, and omission were proven, dismissing Ancelotti’s defense that he was unaware of the fraudulent nature of his actions.

The Madrid Superior Court, where Ancelotti has been facing trial since Wednesday, has not yet issued a ruling. Ancelotti’s lawyer, Carlos Zabala, argued that his client did not fully understand the contract he signed with the club, claiming that the situation could have been resolved without going to court. Zabala further accused the Spanish tax authorities of attempting to humiliate his client publicly.

During his testimony, Ancelotti denied any intention to commit fraud and explained that the Real Madrid club itself had suggested a system to manage part of his salary through image rights. In line with the club’s advice, a company was set up to channel 15% of Ancelotti’s net annual salary of six million euros through image rights.

The public prosecutor's office has calculated that Ancelotti earned 1.24 million euros in 2014 and 2.96 million euros in 2015 from the sale of his image rights, which are at the heart of the dispute.